In the news: Prenatal Lutein Benefits Infants & Mothers; Omega-3, DHA Linked to Lower AMD Risk

Prenatal Lutein Benefits Babies & Mothers

A study(1) led by Dr. Paul Bernstein at the Moran Eye Center of the University of Utah and partially funded by the NIH, sought to examine the effect of prenatal carotenoid supplementation on mothers and their infants’ ocular development and function.

The trial aimed to determine whether the potential benefits of these carotenoids warrant their addition to prenatal supplements for expectant mothers.

The findings highlight improved macular pigment optical volume (MPOV) for supplemented mothers and increased macular pigment ocular density (MPOD) and foveal maturity for their newborns.

This prospective study enrolled 47 pregnant women 18 years of age or older randomly assigned to receive 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin or placebo starting in the first trimester.

Main outcome measures included changes in maternal and infant macular pigment, skin and serum carotenoid status over the study period.

At all study time points, there was a significant increase in maternal MPOV in the supplemented group compared to controls (p< 0.001). No maternal ocular carotenoid depletion was seen.

Supplemented infants’ skin and serum carotenoids increased significantly vs. controls. As exploratory endpoints, infants in the maternal supplemented group had a 20% increase in MPOD and more mature foveal parameters.

According to the authors, “the clinical relevance of difference in foveal maturity observed in our study lies in the potential long-term benefits for visual and cognitive development. Enhanced foveal maturity may improve infant visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Thus, a well-developed fovea is essential for sharp central vision and is critical for recognizing faces as children grow.”

“This study provides important data to design and power a future multicenter study of prenatal carotenoid supplantation in higher-risk pregnancies”, the authors concluded.

Analyses Link Omega-3, DHA to AMD Risk

Researchers from the Singapore Eye Research Institute in collaboration with the NIH’s National Eye Institute explored the association of omega-3 fatty acids and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 258,000 + individuals of European descent from the UK Biobank with available plasma omega-3 and DHA data(2)

The investigators also conducted Mendelian randomization analysis (using genetic variations to infer causality).

Higher plasma levels of omega-3 and DHA were linked with lower odds of being diagnosed with AMD.

Mendelian randomization analyses showed a casual effect between genetic predisposition for higher plasma omega-3 levels and lower risk of dry AMD (p = 0.01), wet AMD (p < 0.001) and any AMD (p < 0.001).

Higher plasma DHA were also casually linked with lower odds of developing wet AMD (p = 0.017) and any AMD (p = 0.03).

The findings of the Mendelian randomization analyses strengthen the prospective cohort evidence for a protective role of omega-3s against AMD. These results support the need for further clinical trials to test their effectiveness in AMD prevention and treatment, according to the study authors.

References

1. Addo EK, et al. Ocular effects of prenatal carotenoid supplementation in the mother and her child: The Lutein and Zeaxanthin in Pregnancy (L-ZIP) randomized trial- Report number 2. Ophthalmol Sci.4(5):100537, 2024.
2. Xue CC, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids as protective factors for age-related macular degeneration: Prospective cohort and Mendelian randomization analyses Ophthal. Epub Dec 9, 2024.